Tasmania's Georgia Baker wins women's criterium at Santos Festival of Cycling

The BikeExchange-Jayco rider claimed the Trek Night Riders women's criterium on Australia Day as part of South Australia's Santos Festival of Cycling.

A team effort got Baker across the line first in the 45-minute plus one lap twilight race in Adelaide.

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The experienced competitor endured more than 30-degree heat as she zoomed around the 1.35-kilometre circuit.

"I'm so happy to have a win I haven't had a win in such a while,'' the 27-year-old said.

"Credit to my team, we had the perfect lead-out and we had some really good rehearsal days at the Santos Festival of Cycling, it was great to be able to nail it here and get another win for the team.

"Coming off COVID, I wasn't sure how I would be on the bike, but it was a real pleasure to lead Ruby out over the last three days (in the stage race).

"I head overseas next week and head into the (spring) classics."

Sydney Uni Staminade's Josie Talbot finished second while ARA Pro Racing Sunshine Coast's Maeve Plouffe was third.

Plouffe won stage two of the road race this week.

There was plenty happening in the women's criterium with three crashes, including one on the opening lap.

Knights of Suburbia's Emily Watts - who won the first road race stage - endured a brutal crash but the resilient rider got back on the bike.

Teammate Ruby Roseman-Gannon, who finished fourth in the criterium, helped Baker to the line in a tight sprint finish.

The 22-year-old repaid the favour after Baker had assisted her to claim overall honours from the festival's three-stage road race.

Roseman-Gannon, who took out stage three at Lobethal, won the Santos Leaders Jersey and Sprint Jersey.

Baker finished fourth overall in the road race stages.

Hitting the road is a change up for Baker who is a renowned track cyclist.

The Tassie-born rider competed in track cycling at the 2016 Rio and 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Baker's women's team pursuit team came fifth and she and Annette Edmondson claimed seventh-place in the madison relay event in Tokyo.

Baker won gold in the team pursuit at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

Launceston's Nicole Frain, representing Roxsolt Liv Sram, claimed second overall at this week's festival after gaining three road race podium finishes.

The Festival of Cycling wraps on January 29 with the men's road race stages on from Thursday-Saturday.

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